Our home in the woods for the weekend. (Image: Casey Funke)

If it’s been a few years since you’ve broken out the stove and water filtration device, let this serve as your PSA – the woods are calling, and you should go.

A year ago, this same group of friends welcomed my son with open arms into our mid-July backpacking tradition that loosely celebrates another trip around the sun for one of our buddies. I learned a lot that trip on how to successfully bring your toddler backpacking, and came up with eight criteria for a successful trip. Most of these were still applicable a year later. Parenting in the wilderness isn’t all that different than parenting anywhere else. You’ve got to keep your kid fed, rested, and entertained. The backcountry provides a marvelous setting for these requisites.

Taking a break by Upper Watson Lake with my trail buds. (Image: Casey Funke)

On the food front, go easy on yourself, and your kid. Annie’s mac and cheese worked well for dinner. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich was lunch. And we brought plenty of apples, Z bars, and pouches to keep us nourished and energetic. I’m of the mantra that you can eat what you earn, so a sweet trail snack is a must on our family adventures. Peanut Butter M&Ms kept my son excited all weekend. Used sparingly and strategically, they can be a real mood booster.

Being in the wilderness is exhausting, so sleep came fairly easy. Equipped with a double sleeping pad, a two-person tent that we shared with our dog, an insulated sleep sack, and his mandatory sleeping companions, puppy and bunny, we got some good rest on the trip.

Annie’s mac and cheese: the ultimate backcountry crowd-pleaser. (Image: Casey Funke)

And finally, from an entertainment standpoint, there is plenty to do in the mountains. This year’s trip coincided with our ongoing quest to use the potty consistently (I guess I’ve adopted the word potty into my lexicon), so we spent ample time finding trees to pee on. We swam in Upper Watson Lake, explored the surrounding area, and sat around camp fending off bugs with bug nets, kid-friendly bug repellent stickers, and lightweight long sleeves. On our full day at the lake, we hiked around the south end and up the ridge on the other side, finding snow patches to play on and creeks to jump over.

One giant leap for kid-kind. (Image: Casey Funke)

Don’t expect much downtime backpacking with a toddler. If you’re accustomed to reading in a hammock when camping, this is not that. This is digging deep into your patience reserves as your kid asks for a snack for the 100th time of the afternoon. This is taking four unsuccessful trips to the camp toilet, only to have your kid poop his pants on the car ride home. This is adding 30 pounds to your tired legs and climbing tight switchbacks through hemlock and Douglas fir. This is relying on your friends to treat your son with the most patience and care you could ever hope for. This is jumping in an alpine lake after a stiff climb. This is sitting around a camp lantern with your best buddies, sipping whiskey while your nearly three-year-old sleeps deeply in the tent a few feet away. This is bringing your dog along because she was once your number one companion, but now all she does is make your life harder, it seems, but you still love her and want her to be happy, which she is in the woods. This is hanging your food in a tree outside of camp. This is climbing into your sleeping bag next to your sound asleep kid who you are more proud of than ever before. This is getting a crummy night’s sleep because it’s camping, but waking up to a dew-covered tent, a hot cup of coffee, and the sun rising over the mountains.

This is the same ol’ backpacking that I’ve been enjoying since I was my son’s age. I hope it rubs off on him.

Some traditions are worth carrying on — literally. (Image: Casey Funke)

More PNW Outdoor Adventures

•  Gear, locations & more Tips for backpacking with kids
• Where to find last-minute, no reservations campsites
• Guide to kid-friendly hikes in Mt. Rainier National Park 

The post Backpacking with Kids: Lessons from the trail appeared first on Seattle's Child.

More camping resources: 5 close-to-Seattle campgrounds that are great but not as busy | Campgrounds to reserve early — with backup plans in case you didn’t

Where the parks are

State Parks

Here are the parks where all camping is first-come, first-served:

Joemma Beach State Park: 19 primitive tent sites.

Mount Spokane State Park: 8 standard sites and more than 12,000 acres to explore.

Obstruction Pass State Park: Small Orcas Island park with 10 primitive sites; take your car on the ferry or arrive by boat or kayak.

Sucia Island Marine State Park: Horseshoe-shaped island in the San Juan Archipelago; 60 standard sites accessible only by watercraft.

Wallace Falls State Park: You will need to set out early to score one of the two prime sites at this park in Snohomish County.

Blake Island Marine State Park: Close to Seattle but you’ll need a boat or water taxi; 44 sites.

Cape Disappointment State Park: On the Long Beach Peninsula; 137 sites for spontaneous campers. Important: Expected to close in September 2025 through April 2026 for major construction. 

Curlew Lake State Park: Just 25 miles from the Canadian border, out-of-the-way lakeside park has 80 sites; most campsites must be reserved. (Due to colder temperatures, water and restroom facilities may be reduced during April and October. Hook up sites may be affected. Please call the park at (509)775-3592 for more information.)

Jarrell Cove State Park: Access this forested campground on Harstine Island (in South Puget Sound) by boat or car; 19 campsites are available for reservation.

Lewis and Clark State Park: Jackson House State Park Heritage Site just 2 miles to the north. (The park wading pool is closed until further notice.)

Schafer State Park: A short hop east of Interstate 5 in Elma on the East Fork Satsop River.

National Parks and Forests

Campgrounds at Olympic National Park

The following campgrounds are all first-come, first-served. For more information about camping in Olympic National Park check here.

Deer Park: 14 sites in a spectacular mountain meadow at the end of a winding dirt road.

Fairholme: 88 sites on Lake Crescent.

Graves Creek: 30 sites in the Quinault Rain Forest.

Heart O’ the Hills (Temporarily closed): 97 total sites

Hoh: 72 sites by the Hoh River. Sites are first-come, first-served outside of the reservation period.

Kalaloch: 170 sites by Kalaloch with views of the Pacific Ocean. First come, first served in the off-season. Due to severe bluff erosion, the following campsites have been closed permanently (A18, D24, D31, E6, E9).

Mora: 94 sites in a forest along the coast, two miles from Rialto Beach.

North Fork: 9 sites in rainforest

Ozette: 15 sites by Lake Ozette

Queets: 20 sites by the Queets River

South Beach: 55 sites on a bluff overlooking the Pacific

Staircase: 49 sites near the Skokomish River.

Campgrounds at Mount Rainier National Park

Mount Rainier National Park has two campgrounds, which are first-come, first-served. For more on camping in Mount Rainier National Park, click here.

Mowich Lake: 13 tent sites in the northwest section of the park

Campgrounds at North Cascades National Park

North Cascades National Park has six campgrounds available for first-come, first-served in the winter season. Most of the campgrounds are available for reservations during the summer season. Drive-in campgrounds along Highway 20 are on a reservation system through recreation.gov. More on North Cascades National Park camping here.

Goodell Creek Main Campground: 19 sites near the Skagit River.

Gorge Lake: Eight sites on the bank of Gorge Lake. (Closed currently)

Purple Point: Six tent-only sites near Lake Chelan. The remote location is only accessible by walking, boat, or plane. (Sites 1-2 remain closed; sites 3-6 are open first come, first served.)

Harlequin: 7 tent-only sites by the Stehekin River. The remote location is only accessible by walking, boat, or plane.

Lakeview: Nine tent-only sites located by Lake Chelan. The remote location is only accessible by walking, boat, or plane. Note: (Sites 1-5 and group backpacker camp remain closed) sites 6-9 are open first-come, first-served.)

Campgrounds at Olympic National Forest

All 17 campgrounds in Olympic National Forest are first-come, first-served, and most have amenities such as drinking water. Fan favorites: Willaby, on Lake Quinault, and Seal Rock, on the Hood Canal. Details on Olympic National Forest camping are here.

Campgrounds at Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

Most campgrounds in Mount Baker/Snoqualmie National Forest are reservation-only. (Details on Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest camping here.)

There are two first-come, first-served campgrounds.

Evans Creek: This campground is located in a beautiful forest setting, offering 40 miles of combined four-wheel drive and motorcycle/quad trails of varying difficulty.

San Juan: Tiny campground near the north fork of the Skykomish River. Open from July to Sept.

Campgrounds at Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

Although a few popular campgrounds in this area take reservations, most are first-come, first-served. One to remember is Kachess Campground, located tantalizingly close to Seattle on Lake Kachess. It has some first-come, first-served sites. Details on Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest campgrounds are here.

Campgrounds at Gifford Pinchot National Forest

While the largest and most popular campgrounds in Gifford Pinchot National Forest are reservation only, there are a number of small, usually primitive, first-come, first-serve areas in more distant parts of the forest. Details here.

The post No reservation? No problem. Here’s where to get a last-minute campsite appeared first on Seattle's Child.

With six years of camping as a family, we’ve stayed at several campsites throughout Washington. Amazingly, we’ve never had a negative experience. (To be honest, we’re fair-weather campers, so we have canceled two trips when the weather forecast was rainy).

New same-day camping reservations: 

Starting March 24, 2025, Washington State Parks will offer same-day camping reservations at all parks with reservable campgrounds—no more rolling the dice on first-come, first-served sites. Learn more here.

Here’s a roundup of some of the campgrounds we’ve been able to stay at — from Mount Rainier to the San Juans to the Cascades — we’ve stayed at some beautiful places in our great state and look forward to many more years of making memories while camping as a family.

Cougar Rock Campground

• Ashford, WA (use the Paradise entrance at Mount Rainier)
• Showers/Bathroom: Flush toilets; no showers
• Reservations: Reserve sites through Recreation.gov can be made six months in advance
• Construction: Will be closed August 4-8 and 11-15, 2025

This is one of only two reservable campgrounds at Mount Rainier National Park. Located just a short drive from the Paradise Visitor Center, this family-friendly campground was a perfect location for our Mount Rainier trip. We used it as a base to go up and down the mountain for short day hikes and mountain-viewing. The Nisqually River is just across the street from the campground. If you stay at the campground, you don’t need an additional timed entrance reservation to get into the park.

Special for kids: We had a quiet campsite on one of the campground loops. The road around our campsite was empty enough that our 5-year-olds could bike around quite comfortably (with mom and dad watching for the occasional car). In addition to being a short drive from Paradise, the campsite is just a short drive north of Longmire. My daughter’s favorite hike of the trip was the Trail of the Shadows hike, located just across the street from Longmire. Our kids both completed the Junior Ranger Program, a program through the National Park Service where kids can complete an activity book and then get “sworn in” as a junior ranger, completed with an oath and a badge to take home. I highly recommend it!

Camping at Cougar Rock. (Image: Ellie White)

Middle Fork Snoqualmie Campground

• North Bend, WA
• Showers/Bathroom: Pit toilets; no showers
• Reservations: Reserve sites through Recreation.gov can be made six months in advance

This is one of my favorite family-friendly campgrounds in WA to visit — it takes just over an hour to drive from Seattle, but you feel worlds away while there. The campground is filled with trees and is just a short walk from the beautiful Snoqualmie River. You can wander along the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Trail, sit along the river, or find one of many trails near the campground.

Special for kids: A short walk from the campground is a wide, rocky spot to sit by the river. You could spend hours here wading and exploring. Nearby, family-friendly hikes include the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Trail and Garfield Ledge Trail. The Middle Fork Snoqualmie Trail trailhead is a short walk from the campground, has relatively low elevation gain, and goes on for many miles (I’ve never done the whole 12-mile loop – I always just go for a while and then turn around). The Garfield Ledge Trail trailhead is also a short walk from the campground and includes elevation gain. Our 4-year-olds were able to complete the nearly two-mile hike. Be aware that the viewpoint at the top of the hike is steep, so you must watch your little ones closely.

There are several trails adjacent to Middle Fork Campground. (Image courtesy Recreation.gov)

Spencer Spit State Park

• 521 Bakerview Rd, Lopez Island, WA 98261
• Showers/Bathroom: Flush toilets; no showers
• Reservations: Reserve sites through Washington State Parks can be made nine months in advance or same day reservation.

Our parenting (PEPS) group took our annual camping trip to Spencer Spit when our kids were 4. Getting ferry reservations can take some time. So many people tried to get them the day we all tried, but the website wasn’t working properly. We spent many hours trying but finally got them and made it out to this beautiful spot on Lopez Island. The island is so small that you can explore all of it with the campground as a base. We visited beaches, did short hikes, and went into town during our camping trip.

Special for kids: There was a (what seemed to be newly constructed) playground that the kids enjoyed playing on. The kids also did quite a lot of biking in the park; parents would stand guard at either end of a long road in front of the site, and the kids did loop after loop on the road. Some families brought adult bikes and biked their kids into town. The campground is right on the water, so we would do a short (steep) walk down to the water to explore, swim, and calm.

Playground at Spencer Spit. (Image: Ellie White)

Lake Wenatchee State Park

• 21588 SR 207, Leavenworth, WA 98826
• Showers/Bathroom: Flush toilets; showers
• Reservations: Reserve sites through Washington State Parks can be made nine months in advance or same day.

We stayed at the group site at Lake Wenatchee State Park. It accommodates up to 80 people and would be excellent for a large group. We were just a group of three families and got the reservation the day before the trip. I’d say the group site could comfortably accommodate 10-12 tents. The individual sites were not too appealing to me — they looked like they were in a parking lot and weren’t surrounded by trees, while the group site had many trees scattered throughout. This family-friendly campground is located on beautiful Lake Wenatchee, with a swimming area sectioned off at the beach, including a wheelchair-accessible ramp down to the water.

Special for kids: We had so much space at the group campsite. There were no low-hanging branches on the trees, so the kids could easily bike and play baseball and soccer around the campsite. We headed over to the north campground (we stayed in the south campground) and meandered along a river connected to the lake; the kids could have explored the shore for hours. And just across the street from our campsite, horseback riding was offered through Icicle Outfitters & Guides. I’m glad my husband pushed for us to do a ride — the kids had a great time, and it was a great new experience for them. Another perk of the trip was that the park store rented gas fires, so although there was a fire ban, we could still have a “campfire” and roast marshmallows.

Wenatchee campground. (Image: Ellie White)

The post Camping Across Washington: A family guide to the most scenic spots appeared first on Seattle's Child.

New for 2025:

Planning a last-minute family adventure just got a whole lot easier. Starting March 24, 2025, Washington State Parks will offer same-day camping reservations at all parks with reservable campgrounds—no more rolling the dice on first-come, first-served sites. Learn more here.

Book now (ie, sooner than you think)

The new reservation system makes finding a camp spot much easier for first-time campers who are able to go camping at the last minute (must book your spot before 2 p.m. the day of your arrival). However, if you want to plan, it never hurts to book ahead, especially with the popularity of many of these campgrounds.

For the state parks listed below, we highly recommend signing in on the Washington State Parks website and ready to book your trip at 7:00 a.m., nine months before the date you want your trip to start. (For example, if you want to go camping July 19-21, 2025, then you must book your trip on October 19, 2024, at 7:00 a.m. sharp.)

Cancellations

Be sure to read up on the cancellation policy. If your plans change, be courteous and transfer your campsite to another family or cancel altogether so the spot will open on the system. Join a camping group on social media to make transfers easy.

What to pack

Whether camping in a tent, RV, or trailer, here are some things you’ll need to have a safe and comfortable trip. Tip: Borrow or rent equipment before making your purchase. Set up the tent in your backyard to get a feel for how comfortable the setup might be. Camping in your backyard is a good way to test your equipment and patience.

• Tent: If your budget can go a little bigger, purchase a bigger tent. If you have a family of 4 and the tent proportions say that the space fits four people, assume it is comfortable for three adults. Opt for a larger 5-6 person tent if space is a concern. Also, if you’d like to move around in your tent while standing, evaluate how tall you want your tent to be and rent/purchase based on height. Don’t forget to get a tarp for underneath the tent and ensure it is the appropriate size. Too small, and your tent floor won’t be protected. Too large, and rainwater may collect and end up underneath your tent. Tip: Set up your tent, mat and sleeping bag early at the campground so you don’t have to do it in the dark.
• Sleeping bag and mat: Campgrounds are hard and uncomfortable, contributing to a rough night of sleep. Choose a sleeping bag and mat that fits your body and is warm enough for unpredictable cold weather. Your mattress pad should also have a high insulation value to store body heat. Another tip: Bring a pair of earplugs with you. Neighbors might snore, other children may cry, or the rain may not lull you to sleep as much as you think if you’re in an RV.
• Lighting: There is no lighting at the campground, so bring your own. Bring a lantern, flashlight, and headlamp to help you find your way in the dark. Depending on fire restrictions, you may build a fire to keep warm and brighten up the place. Bring wood, a lighter, newspaper/paper and fire starters.

Cooking

Having a meal together is part of the experience. Here’s what you need to have a nice meal in the outdoors.

• Stove: If you’re not cooking all your meals over the fire, you’ll need a 2-burner propane stove to help do simple things like boil water for hotdogs, instant soups and more. Keep foods simple and don’t forget the smores!
• Pots, plates, forks, spoons and cups: Most families purchase a set of dinnerware, usually made of plastic or metal. Remember that dishes need to be washed so having a water supply or a water source nearby is helpful. Using disposable material is less desirable for environmental reasons, but if that’s all you have, then remember to pack everything out of the campground and dispose of materials appropriately.
• Cooler: Pack a cooler with ice and food essentials. If your family is car camping, consider purchasing a plug-in cooler (use your car to plug in the cooler while driving around or getting to camp). It’s convenient to keep things extra cold.

Tips: When you’re outdoors, you may encounter wildlife. Seal up your food in canisters and large containers. Purchase tamper-proof locks so bears, bobcats, and raccoons (among other wildlife) won’t be unwanted guests at dinnertime. Also, some campgrounds have picnic tables for dining. Bring a plastic tablecloth and spread it on the table for an extra cozy feeling.

Making it comfy

Sometimes the simplest things like a place to sit, blankets, and warm clothing can make camping relaxing and fun.

Don’t forget to pack these things:

• Camp chairs: Seating is limited at most campsites, so bring you own camping chairs. Hammocks are also a great idea, if you can find two trees close enough.
• Camp clothing: Bring layers and wear as appropriate for the weather. Wear sturdy shoes, and bring slippers or slip-on shoes for trips to the campsite bathroom. A hat is useful for blocking the sun, and long sleeves help when bug season is at its worst.
• Medications, games, creature comforts: Remember to bring any necessary medications for your child and yourself. Pack sunscreen and bug repellent, too.
• Bring a favorite stuffed animal or a good book. Kids like a reminder of home, while they make new memories in a new place. Boardgames will help too, if boredom sets in. Bikes are also wonderful to have, if space allows. Many campsites have open areas or trails for kids to walk, scoot, or bike.

Where to go

Deception Pass State Park
41229 State Route 20 Oak Harbor
Drive time from Seattle: 1 hour 25 minutes

This beautiful, wooded campsite is one of the most popular in the state for good reason. With numerous hiking trails, beach lines with award winning views and of course the famous bridge suspended 180 feet over the dramatic waters of Deception Pass, there is no shortage of things to explore. A few of our favorite things to do here as a family include: swimming, fishing and kayaking at Cranberry Lake. We also love spending a day at the beach playing in the water, building sandcastles and beachcombing.

Tips:

• Pack your life jackets and floaties to use at the Cranberry Lake swimming area.
• In the summer, take the tide pool tours. Staff of the Rosario Tide Pools will take you on a trip to explore a world only uncovered at low tide. Tours are limited to 16 participants and only available on selected dates. Pre-registration is required.
• Deception Pass has welcomed Blue Otter Kayaks to the shores of Cranberry Lake. Kayak, SUP and canoe rentals are available daily from 11-5 through Labor Day. You can call to make reservations, however, I was told that typically, reservations are unnecessary and you can walk up and rent. For more information, visit Blue Otter Kayaks online.
• Check in at the ranger station and ask for a Jr. Ranger packet. Complete them and turn them back in before you leave.

Lake Easton State Park
150 Lake Easton State Park Road
Drive time from Seattle: 1 hour 15 minutes

Just a short jaunt over Snoqualmie Pass and nestled in the trees is an amazing family friendly campground that makes for a perfect weekend getaway. Lake Easton State Park truly has a little something for everyone. From a hike with beautiful views, a playground on a beach with sandy shores and large relaxing wooded campsites, this park won’t disappoint. Our favorite activities when we stay at Lake Easton include: family bike rides around the campsite and on the hiking trails, spending lots of time swimming in the lake, and playing at the nearby playground.

Tips:

• Be sure to check out the 5-mile loop hike around Lake Easton. This hike features beautiful views of the lake, a train track, an old tunnel and a trail bridge that spans the Yakima River.
• If traffic noise bothers you, look at the park map before booking your campsite to ensure you get a spot away from the interstate.
• Pack your bikes, hiking shoes, swimsuits, water floaties, kayaks, and paddle boards for this trip.
• Remember, lifeguards are not stationed at the beach or on the lake. Practice water safety and keep a close eye on your kids.
• Jr. Ranger packets available at check-in. Complete them and turn them back in before you leave.

Grayland Beach State Park
925 Cranberry Beach Rd Grayland
Drive time from Seattle: 2 hours 20 minutes

Our family discovered Grayland Beach State Park last year and it quickly became a favorite for us. The campground is large, but its loop style layout make many of the spaces feel secluded and private. In addition to tent and RV spots, Grayland also offers yurts for those who may want to camp, but don’t own a tent, or just want a different experience. For the yurts, know that you need to bring your own bedding, showers and bathrooms are a short walk away and they are pet friendly. Several trails leave from the campground and lead you through gentle grassy dunes to the beach. Much of our time here was spent relaxing at our campsite, walking or driving the beach (our kids were delighted to find a few intact sand dollars and shells on the beach) and exploring nearby Westport.

Note about driving on the beach: Although it is ok to drive on the beach here, know that you are doing so at your own risk and 4-wheel drive vehicles are strongly recommended. Also know that rules of the road still apply on the beach and reckless driving is not allowed. You must drive slowly and be aware of tides, pedestrians, wildlife and large logs. With that being said, my kids thought this was by far one of the best parts of our trip and loved our beach drives. If you are very uncomfortable driving in off-road conditions, then this might not be the best activity for you.

Tips:

• Be sure to pack sand toys for the beach and buckets or bags for collecting shells and sand dollars. Our kids also used their buckets to catch and release frogs at our campsite.
• Jr. Ranger packets available when you check in at the ranger stations. Complete them and turn them back in before you leave.
• If staying in a yurt, be sure to pack all your bedding as it is not included.
• Be sure to explore nearby Westport. Here are some of our family’s favorite discoveries there: Grays Harbor Lighthouse (the tallest lighthouse in Washington State), Westport Maritime Museum, Westport Viewing Tower and walking around the Westport Marina.

Fort Worden State Park
200 Battery Way Port Townsend
Drive time from Seattle: 2 hours 10 minutes

Fort Worden is hands down our family’s favorite camping spot. There is so much to do and see for both kids and adults. The campground is large and spacious and a short walk from the beach and old military bunkers. We love exploring the bunkers and always bring headlamps, flashlights and glowsticks. Yet, we still manage to get creeped out in some of the long dark halls or stairways. It is truly a surreal feeling to walk these bunkers and buildings and try to imagine what it was like when they were in their prime, bustling with activity. Some of our other favorite activities here include: exploring The Puget Sound Coast Artillery Museum, The Port Townsend Marine Science Center and the Point Wilson Light House (all within walking distance from the campground).

Tips:

• Be sure to pack your bikes for this one! The campground is large, flat and perfect for family bike rides.
• Don’t forget to pack flashlights, head lamps and glow sticks to explore the bunkers, its dark in there!
• A word of caution about the bunkers: There are many spots with no handrails and many uneven areas in the rooms and halls where things may have been removed etc. Please always keep a close eye on your kids here and be cautious while exploring.
• Downtown Port Townsend is a short drive from the campground and has many bookstores, souvenir shops, and a candy and ice cream shop our kids loved.
• Jr. Ranger packets available at check in. Complete them and turn them back in before you leave.

Lake Wenatchee State Park
21588 SR 207 Leavenworth
Drive time from Seattle: 2 hours

We can’t make a list of great campgrounds for first time campers and not include Lake Wenatchee State Park! This park is well known and popular among families for a reason. Take a dip in the alpine lakes swimming area or rent a kayak or stand-up paddle board for the afternoon. Need a break from the water? Explore the nearby trails on horseback, bike or foot. Other available activities within the park include a playground, horseshoes, and a volleyball field. The possibilities are endless here for fun and adventure.

Tips:

• Pack floaties and water shoes for the swimming area.
• Horseback Rides: For a quiet adventure and some of the most beautiful scenery in the Cascade Mountains, take a horse ride with Icicle Outfitters located at Lake Wenatchee State Park. Tours range from a few hours to a full day.  For additional information and reservations, visit them online.
• Kayak & Paddleboard Rentals: Lake Wenatchee Adventures offers kayak and SUP rentals daily from 10-6 from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day.  They are located near the swimming beach next to the concession stand and restrooms.
• Enough online reviews of this park have warned about mosquitos, that I thought it was worth mentioning. Pack your pop-up screen houses, mosquito repellants and citronella candles, just in case.
• Jr. Ranger packets available when you check in at the ranger stations. Complete them and turn them back in before you leave.

Cama Beach State Park
1880 SW Camano Drive Camano Island
Drive time from Seattle: 1 hour 15 minutes

For those who want to get away, but camping in a tent might not be your jam, Cama Beach just might be for you. This unique park does not offer tent or RV camping, but has rows of beach front cabins, a park store and a large firepit for evening socializing. It feels a little like you’ve stepped back in time when visiting here. The state park also features a great hall and café, as well as boat-building classes offered by The Center for Wooden Boats on scheduled weekends in the boathouse.

Each cabin comes with a combination of bunk beds and stand-alone beds (mattresses are provided, but bring your own bedding.), kitchenette with a sink, microwave, and a small fridge (there are no stoves or ovens, however, so bring your own camp stove or outdoor grill). You will want to pack as though you are tent camping (ie: bring dishes, food, bedding, pillows, flashlights etc.)

Tips:

• Reservations for the cabins can be made 9 months in advance like other state park camping reservations. However, groups of 7 cabins or more (when booked together) can be made up to 18 months in advance with a minimum of a 2-night stay. Plan accordingly and book here. Make sure to search under “roofed” accommodations for Cama Beach Cabins) or by calling (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.
• Pack as though you are tent camping, but without the tent. Bring dishes, food, bedding (including pillows!), flashlights etc.
• Don’t forget to ask for your Jr. Ranger packets when you check in at the ranger stations and complete them and turn them back in before you leave.

Tolt-McDonald
31020 NE 40th St, Carnation
Drive time from Seattle: 40 minutes

Officially known as Tolt River-John MacDonald Park, this park and campground in Carnation is known by locals as Tolt-MacDonald Park. This beautiful campground remains somewhat of a well-kept secret; however, word seems to be getting out about what a true gem it is. Popular among camping newbies and longtime campers alike, this park offers some unique exploring opportunities. One of those being a 500-foot-long suspension footbridge that spans the Snoqualmie River and provides amazing views and access to beautiful forested and riverside trails. Kids will delight in crossing the bridge and hiking to the river below where they can play and explore. In the Fall, spawning salmon can be seen in the river and soaring above, eagles and osprey, in search of their next meal.

Tips:

• Reservations for Tolt-McDonald can be made on the King County Parks website up to a year in advance (2 night minimum). You can also contact the Regional Scheduling Office at 206-477-6150 or send email to regional.scheduling@kingcounty.gov.
• The campground has six yurts overlooking the river and seasonal camping for RVs and tents – all with fire pits.
• Tolt-MacDonald Park is the site of two popular annual events: the three-day Timber! Outdoor Music Festival and Beat the Blerch, a ridiculously fun running event. Be sure to check the dates of these events to avoid crowds.
• Swing by First Light Farm & Learning Center, a short drive from the park, for fresh produce, raw local honey, and other farm stand items.

Lake Kachess
Bakers Ln, Easton
Drive time from Seattle: 1 hour 15 minutes

Set in dense old-growth forest and surrounded by high mountains, Kachess Campground is considered one of the most beautiful in the Cle Elum area. Offering both tent and RV sites, Kachess is a prime location for fishing, swimming, boating, paddling and mountain biking in summer and early fall.

Tips:

• This campground is popular, especially on weekends, so reservations are highly recommended. Reservations can be made here, 6 months in advance. There is a two night minimum requirement on weekends. Reservations are released daily at 7 a.m. PDT on Recreation.gov for six months in advance. So, for instance, at 7 a.m. today (March 26), sites were released for Sept. 26.
• Starting at the campground, the Kachess Lake Trail is a short loop next to the lake, enjoyable for hikers of all levels.
• Don’t forget your water shoes for this one! The beach around the lake is beautiful but rocky.

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Families in King and Pierce counties have a new (make that newly restored) outdoor camp to send kids off to this summer. Replete with hiking trails, old-timey lodges, archery, fire pits, and other favorite camp activities, historic Camp Kilworth doesn’t require a long drive over or into the mountains. Its 25 lush forested acres are located along the shoreline of Federal Way. 

The camp was closed in 2016 but re-opened on May 7, ready to serve a new generation of kids and families through YMCA summer day camps, outdoor education programs, and other community events. Nearly 200 kids and adults, including area lawmakers and Federal Way’s mayor, are expected at the camp’s opening celebration. 

The camp will also host open weekends, giving the public access to its trails and open-air theater.

“There will also be programs, recreational, and environmental activities for kids and families like guided hikes, outdoor movies, open-air concerts, and live performances,” said Jason Lane, YMCA Senior Director of Camps and Outdoor Leadership. The Y will partner with schools teaching kids about salmon habitat, forest ecology, land stewardship, leadership, and the power of nature. The camp’s Rotary Lodge is still undergoing renovation but will eventually be available for community celebrations. 

YMCA President and CEO Loria Yeadon notes that Federal Way and surrounding communities have had “limited access to outdoor education facilities.” Camp Kilworth’s re-opening is part of an effort to equalize such access.

Celebrating the opening of Camp KIlworth May 7. (Image: YMCA of Greater Seattle)

Kids aren’t the only ones to benefit …

“This is also an area that is more diverse than the rest of the state and has higher poverty levels,”  Yeadon said. “With intentional engagement with the local community — local schools, nonprofits, and community-based organizations, especially those led by and serving BIPOC youth, Camp Kilworth will allow traditionally underrepresented groups the opportunity to experience outdoor education opportunities afforded to peers throughout the region.”

Yeadon says the goal of day camps and other events is to help young people learn to respect and enjoy the outdoors, build community, and engage socially in healthy ways. 

“This is particularly needed at a time when families are struggling to find community-based spaces and places that foster connection,” Yeadon says. “This camp provides children with more opportunities for in-person social engagement so they can learn to build friendships, develop confidence and emotional resilience, and navigate social settings.” 

The Western Red Cedar trees in the second-growth forest attracts Bald Eagles. (Image: Magnus Manske)

Kids aren’t the only ones who benefit

The camp will also continue to serve local wildlife. 

“Camp Kilworth is an urban forest that serves as a wildlife corridor, with Dash Point to the south and Dumas Bay and Lakota to the north,” said Josh Sutton, YMCA General Manager of Property & Facilities. The camp’s bluff supports large eelgrass beds in Dumas Bay. 

“Those beds are critical salmon habitat — providing food, shelter, and a nursery area,” he said, adding that the camp features a second-growth forest with Western Red Cedar trees attracting Bald Eagles. 

Rotary Lodge at Camp Kilworth. (Image courtesy Camp Kilworth)

History

Boy Scouts of America launched the woodland camp in 1934, closing it in 2016 due to a declining scout membership in the region. In 2020, community-based Kilworth Environmental Education Preserve (KEEP) formed to raise money and support to preserve the camp’s historic buildings and lands. 

In 2022, KEEP brought the nonprofit Forterra, an organization dedicated to protecting critical ecological assets, forests, farmlands, parks, and trails, to the table to purchase and preserve the site. That same year, three camp buildings — Rotary Lodge, Timber Wolf Lodge, and Fire Bowl Amphitheater — became Federal Way’s first official historic landmark sites.

In 2023, the YMCA of Greater Seattle signed a long-term lease to provide youth camps, environmental education, and community open space on the restored site. The first YMCA day camps at Camp Kilworth start in July for youth in grades 1-6. Transportation to camp will be available from the Matt Griffin YMCA in SeaTac. Registration is now open.

The 89-year-old camp underwent extensive restoration before re-opening. Additions and updates include a new welcome center, open-air pavilion, restrooms, restored trails, a renewed archery range, a rebuilt historic amphitheater, new landscaping, a newly seeded grass field, and 25 acres of conserved urban forest.

A community preservation effort

Federal Way residents and other advocates for the camp’s preservation worked hard to keep the property out of the hands of developers.

“Saving Camp Kilworth from development has been the persistent dedication of the community for over 20 years,” a recent KEEP board announcement read. “Camp Kilworth is in outstanding hands, and we are confident the camp will once again be the nurturing, inspiring, and environmental gem of the South Puget Sound.”

KEEP dissolved just before the re-opening of the camp this week. Board leaders there say they are convinced: “It will remain a rare space that will​ continue to teach life skills as William Kilworth and the Rotary 8 of Tacoma intended 89 years ago.”

For more information on the camp or to register for programs, go to seattleymca.org/programs.

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This update is a game-changer for families who love spontaneous weekend getaways or want to chase a sunny forecast. You can now book a campsite online or by phone up until 2 p.m. on the day you want to arrive. That means no more packing the car and hoping for the best when you get there.

This change only applies to tent and RV campsites, not cabins, yurts, vacation rentals, or day-use shelters, so plan accordingly if you’re aiming for roofed accommodations.

Benefits of same-day camping reservations

• More flexibility for weekend or school break plans
• Less stress over site availability
• More access to sites made available by last-minute cancellations
• Still allows walk-up camping after 2:30 p.m. for truly impromptu trips

The same-day reservation system has proven successful in parks like Deception Pass, Cape Disappointment, and Millersylvania, with over 7,000 reservations made since the pilot launched. With this expansion, even more families can enjoy the beauty of Washington’s outdoors. So whether you’re chasing wildflowers, looking for a campfire night under the stars, or just need to unplug with the kids, this new system helps you get out there with less guesswork and more peace of mind. Happy camping!

How to book a same-day camping reservation

Online: washington.goingtocamp.com

By phone: 1-888-CAMPOUT (1-888-226-7688)

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Washington State Parks has an abundance of cabins, yurts, and vacation homes that are great for families. If you visit the Washington State Parks website, you can filter for places to rent. Most of the cabins available in the parks sleep five people and offer a bunk bed, single bed, and full-sized futon. You can find cabins that sleep six, and a few vacation houses sleep between 8 and 12 people.

Blue Lake (Photo by Kathryn Mueller)

Insider tips: Cabins and yurts in Washington State Parks book out nine months in advance, so plan ahead. Summer weekends fill up quickly. Although you might not be thinking about camping in October, that’s when bookings open for prime summer rentals. Bookings open at 7 a.m. Knowing the dates you’ll be traveling is good so you can search and book accordingly.

You’ll also need to bring linens, towels, hygiene products and other necessities. Glamping may be a step up from camping, but it’s still a bit rugged. You won’t find room service, spa treatments or down pillows on this family adventure.

During the summer season, be sure to check the burn bans for each park before your camp trip so you can plan accordingly.

Out to Sea (photo by Kathryn Mueller)

Washington State glamping: Coastal getaways

Grayland Beach

Location: 925 Cranberry Beach Road, Grayland, WA 98547

Cost: $69-$89 per night; pet fee is an additional $15.

Grayland Beach yurts are in a lush coastal forest with trails that give easy access to the sandy Pacific coastline. Pack your beach toys, sunscreen, and towels. The welcome center is open daily. The park store offers a limited selection of snacks, ice cream bars, and beverages.

Cape Disappointment (Courtesy of Washington State Parks)

Cape Disappointment

Location: 244 Robert Gray Drive, Ilwaco, WA

Cost: Cabins & yurts are $79 per night during peak season. Lightkeepers’ residence is $339 per night and $447 on weekends.

Closures: Camping (including loops A,B,C, and D, Waikiki Beach, and North Jetty will close on September 16, 2024, through March 2025, while they complete renovations and repairs to improve the park. see more details here.

Cape Disappointment is wildly popular, and it’s no surprise why. The vast 2,023-acre camping park is located on Long Beach Peninsula and provides access to breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, steep cliffs, and lighthouses. The park offers yurts, cabins, and historic vacation homes to meet your glamping needs. You can even book the lightkeepers’ residences – which are open year-round!

Fort Columbia State Park

Location: 475 State Route 101, Chinook, WA

Cost: Scarborough House is $290 per night on weekdays and $321 on weekends. Steward’s House is $182 per night on weekdays and $201 on weekends.

Check out nearby Fort Columbia State Park. It’s considered one of the most intact historic coastal defense sites in the U.S. The park offers vast hiking trails and secluded beaches. Another thing that makes these locations unique is the solitude. At night, the park is closed to the public, so individuals staying in the vacation homes have the whole area to themselves.

Dash Point (Courtesy of Washington State Parks)

Washington State glamping: Puget Sound retreat

Dash Point State Park 

Location: 5700 SW Dash Point Road, Federal Way, WA

Cost: $80 per night for a cabin

Booking a cabin at Dash Point is the perfect place to go if you’re looking for a getaway close to home. This is a great option if you want to try out glamping before investing in a trek over the mountain passes or to the coast. Located in Federal Way, Dash Point is an urban oasis that feels far removed from city life. Be sure to take in views of Puget Sound, explore the hiking trails, and enjoy the beach.

Outside of Rasar’s cabins (Courtesy of Washington State Parks)

Washington State glamping: Wild cabin adventures

Rasar State Park  

Location: 38730 Cape Horn Road, Concrete, WA 98237

Cost: $103 per night for a cabin

Rasar State Park is located just off the North Cascades Highway and has only three cabins available for booking. Tucked away in the woods, the cabins are just a 10-minute walk to the Skagit River, where you can enjoy eagle watching. Rasar State Park is a short trip from Rockport State Park’s old-growth forest, Sauk Mountain (if you’re looking for wildflower hikes), and North Cascades National Park. It’s perfect for families, offering a playground, fishing, and easy hiking options.

Seaquest State Park 

Location: 3030 Spirit Lake Highway, Castle Rock, WA

Cost: $79 per night for a yurt

Closures: Construction will start on September 15, 2024, and continue through the middle of October 2024. The Campground and day-use areas will be closed. Mount Saint Helens Visitor Center will be temporarily closed from September 30, 2024, to mid-May 2025. Learn more here.

Seaquest yurts are located in a thick forest with more than 12-miles of hiking trails at your fingertips (or, in this case, footsteps). The Mount St. Helens Visitor Center is within walking distance, and you can enjoy panoramic mountain views and boardwalk trails over wetlands. The yurts are 16 feet in diameter and 10 feet high. They have electric heat, lights, and locking doors. The yurts are furnished with a bunk bed that sleeps three, a futon couch that sleeps two, and a small end table. Bathrooms and showers are nearby.

There will be closures from mid-September through October 2024. Ike Kinswa State Park is a great alternative option that is near this location.

Ike Kinswa State Park

Location: 873 State Route 122, Silver Creek, WA

Cost: $79 per night for a cabin

Ike Kinswa State Park is about 45-minutes northeast of Seaquest and sits on the shores of Mayfield Lake. Although it’s a little further away from Mount St. Helen’s, it’s great for swimming, boating, hiking, fishing, and kayaking.

Pearrygin Lake (Photo by Kathryn Mueller)

Lake Getaway

Pearrygin Lake State Park

Location: 625 Bear Creek Rd, Winthrop, WA

Cost: Cabins are $89 per night; cottages are $163 per night

Pearrygin Lake State Park offers cabins and a vacation home for rent. The park is a great place for a family getaway. It offers hiking, swimming, and fishing. Pack sunscreen if you’re planning a summer adventure. The lake is situated in the shadow of beautiful foothills, and when the sun shines, you’ll be glad you have a lake to jump into. This place is the perfect lake retreat with 11,000 feet of waterfront and a boat launch with a dock.

Photo by Kathryn Mueller

Glamping options outside of Washington State Parks

Fort Casey Inn

Location: 1276 Engle Rd, Coupeville, WA

Cost: Check the Fort Casey Inn website for pricing information

This historic inn offers a getaway with a military past. Located on Whidbey Island, Fort Casey Inn was built for U.S. Army officers just before World War I. The adorable row of cottages are all available to book, each a short walk from beaches, trails and more.

Enjoy a nearby hike at Fort Casey State Park to explore the historic military batteries and lighthouse, or head to Ebey’s Landing for a stroll along the bluff with sweeping water views.

For dinner, take a trip to Coupeville and dine in the heart of the quaint downtown strip.

The cottages have full kitchens and include cooking wares. The cost per night varies based on the cottage but typically ranges between $150 and $200. No pets are allowed.

Campground in Winthrop (Courtesy of KOA Winthrop)

KOA Winthrop

Location: 1114 State Route 20, Winthrop, WA 98862

Cost: Check the Wintrop KOA website for pricing details

For around $200 per night, you can immerse yourself in the western theme of Winthrop, a small town at the base of the North Cascades National Park. The KOA campground has deluxe cabins available for rent, but if you want a truly unique experience, you can rent one of their covered wagons. There are two wagon sizes available. The largest can sleep six people and is equipped with two sets of bunks and a king bed.

Cutthroat Lake (Photo by Kathryn Mueller)

Insider tip: Some of my family’s favorite hikes in the North Cascades are only a little more than a 30-minute drive away from Winthrop. If you’re looking for great family-friendly hikes, check out Blue Lake Trail and Cutthroat Lake.

Read more

7 tips for camping with toddlers 

Hiking the North Cascades with kids

Where to find a last minute camping spot

The post Glamping getaways in Washington State appeared first on Seattle's Child.

The appeal of the campfire

Today, the words “campfire stories” may bring to mind summer camping trips and beach bonfires. That’s because in both settings, says Jason Lane, senior executive director for Seattle YMCA’s camping and outdoor leadership programs, the campfire becomes a focal point of entertainment and connection. 

“Fire, in many ways, is like one of our earliest technologies,” Lane says. “We can imagine thousands of years ago, families were sitting around a fire, cooking and telling stories, sharing about the history of their family, their community, and the land … So from a historical sense, I think it’s programmed into us, part of what makes us human. It’s probably very primal, even for youth, and that’s probably why it’s so fascinating for them.” 

Fall/Winter offers great camping in Washington

Need site ideas? Check out : Fall Camping in the Methow Valley, Tips for first-time campers and family friendly campgrounds, and7 kid-friendly campgrounds that get booked up fast

A global phenomena

In the early 1800s, soldiers in the U.S. and other countries commonly used campfire stories to stay awake during nighttime watches. In our country, the tradition was picked up in the early 1900s by youth scouting organizations—the first official Boy Scouts of America handbook included a “Campcraft” chapter providing storytelling tips. 

But campfire stories are not just an American phenomenon. In a 2014 research study, researcher Polly Weissner examined a group of hunter-gatherers in southern Africa. During the day, their conversations focused on economics, productivity, and conflicts. But at night, fireside chats turned to imaginative tales, social healing and connection, and cultural stories. Weissner found similar fireside storytelling traditions among Japanese foragers, Australian aboriginals, and indigenous elders from the Pacific Northwest. 

Research published the same year in the journal Evolutionary Psychology shows that campfires and the stories they bring provide social connection and other benefits, which makes a lot of sense to Lane. As does the fact that in Latin, the word “focus” translates to hearth or fireplace.

“When sitting around a hearth or around a campfire [and] the fire burns down, you get these coals,” Lane says. “Especially with no other light source, they just glow and dance. It’s just so mesmerizing. So when I think about the way your focus is drawn to the fire—for youth and adults—I think [focus] is a very adept word to use for it.”

The power of campfire stories

In the darkness of night, campfire stories often gravitate toward the spooky and supernatural. 

Dancing flames cast shadows around the campground, and noises are amplified, making it hard to tell: Was that just my shadow cast across the tree trunk or a creature scurrying behind a bush? 

Scary stories give kids a sense of risk and danger and a rush of adrenaline in a safe, controlled environment—and that may be part of the appeal to them, Lane says. And, according to multiple sources, telling, hearing, or reading scary stories may help kids cope with fear, understand their feelings, expand their emotional range, practice problem-solving, and develop empathy.

Simone Greene, an 11-year-old Seattleite, likes the chilly feeling of scary campfire stories, amplified by the darkness and the glow of the fire on campers’ faces. 

“I also like [everyone] coming to the campfire and telling spooky stories and scaring each other, and then going to [their] tents,” she adds.  

Still, Lane points out, leaders at YMCA camps don’t focus on scary tales when stories start around the fire. Counselors want kids to feel safe, be able to sleep well, and stay in good spirits. Telling scary stories could change that dynamic, so they focus on stories and activities that build confidence and resilience. 

“You get to unlock your imagination a little differently around the campfire, and those stories can be very fun and can be very meaningful,” says Lane. 

Tips for campfire storytellers

To conjure the right amount of drama, magic, and intrigue when telling a story around the campfire, consider these tips from Benjamin Camp, co-founder and director of Camp Bonfire:

• Choose the right story and practice in advance. Find a short story that involves enough action to hold kids’ attention. Get familiar with the story and memorize it if that helps with your delivery.
• Set yourself up for a good reading. You’re competing with chirping crickets and the crackle of fire, so have water nearby to keep your voice strong. Sit or stand straight, breathe from your diaphragm, and project your voice. A headlamp or clip-on booklight will likely provide more reading light than the campfire. 
• Wait for the right moment. Wait until people have settled under their blankets and eaten their s’mores. Your audience will be captive, silent, and calm–don’t miss it!
• Find your rhythm and be authentic. Camp advises that if stories are being read, they “should be read slightly faster than you think, but without rushing.” Volume, speed, and tone all affect the story’s rhythm.
• Make sure you’re enunciating. 
• Pause occasionally. It may surprise your audience and create suspense. Be sure to add your own reactions to the story to connect with the young listeners. 

Campfire Stories books and decks: Tools for the telling

In 2018, authors Ilyssa and Dave Kyu published their book Campfire Stories: Tales from America’s National Parks with Seattle-based Mountaineers Books. The book was so popular that volume two of Campfire Stories was published in 2023. After the publication of the books, the Kyus say they heard from many stories from readers.

READ AND LISTEN: Glukeek Legend

Input from readers, in part, led the couple to create two sets of storytelling card decks designed to encourage storytelling in group settings, including around the campfire, the family table, or just about anywhere else.

• Campfire Stories Deck is ideal for all ages, featuring prompts for personal stories or fictional tales. While many focus on our experiences with nature, other prompts touch on more personal connections.
• Campfire Stories Deck—For Kids! introduces a more imaginative storytelling process. The cards are divided into two groups: 25 characters (described with an adjective and noun) and 25 actions. The player chooses one card from each set and uses them as prompts to build a story. 

Using the Campfire Stories Deck for Kids!
Photo courtesy Illyssa Kyu

The Kyus encourage families to try different approaches with the cards and have heard from parents doing just that. For example, some parents encourage kids to pull cards to add to a single story continually. Others like to spin a collective tale as a family, each person adopting a character and action.

Writing your own prompts

Consider creating your own prompts to get the stories going around your family table or campfire. Pull out a bowl or bag and fill it with strips of paper that each start with “Tell a story about ….” Here are a few to get you going, based on the Kyu’s Campfire Stories Decks:

• Tell a story about your first visit to a favorite park.
• Tell a story about an unexpected animal encounter.
• Tell a story about your favorite memory of the person sitting beside you.
• Try these combinations of character and action as a starting point:
  • A mellow marmot drains the ocean. What happens next?
  • A bossy butterfly spies a flickering light inside a cave. What happens next?

“To create a way for kids to participate in storytelling, they don’t really need much because their imaginations are just so wild and wacky sometimes,” Ilyssa Kyu says. “Sometimes they just need a spark, so that’s where the idea of creating a deck specifically for kids came [from].” 

The books and decks are available on Amazon, at Campfirestoriesbook.com, and through Mountaineers Books at mountaineers.org/books.

Read more from our storytelling project:

Lifting Up the Sky

Glukeek Legend

Learning txʷəlšucid and telling the stories

Living, breathing, working for my culture

Family stories handed down

The Chicken and Two  Scorpions

A family of Moths: Recreating The Moth StorySLAM at home

The Best Mother She Ever Had

‘Out of my heart a story will come: Storytelling in schools’

The Lion and the Mouse

Why do we tell stories around the fire?

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The science of the outdoors

Think your young child “won’t remember this anyway”? Think again! Science shows that implicit memories are built beginning at nine months of age. These memories give a feeling rather than an explicit picture of the experience. Implicit memory lessons learned by spending time outside include “we go outside in (almost) any weather,” the outdoors is a family space, sleeping in the wilderness is safe with proper precautions, and a sense of wonder for the natural world. Enjoying nature at a young age is guaranteed to foster a lifelong love for spending time in the wilderness. {source}

The author and her toddler daughter setting up their backpacking tent.

Camping vs. Backpacking

Backpacking involves packing lightweight camping gear into a pack on your back and staying overnight in the wilderness, typically in areas inaccessible to cars and boats. Even if the trail is only half a mile from the parking lot, it still counts as backpacking! Camping, on the other hand (also called “car camping” or “boat camping”), involves setting up a campsite just outside your vehicle.

Choosing the right trip

When choosing the right backpacking trip with kids, consider everyone’s previous experience with hiking and backpacking, age and stage, and the adult-to-kid ratio. 

• Experience: If you or your kids are very new to hiking and backpacking, choose destinations that are shorter and closer to civilization allowing flexibility and peace of mind for parents and children. Remember that you are your kid’s first responder in the outdoors, so choosing a destination you feel comfortable with and knowing first aid skills are essential.
• Age and stage: Some younger kids may hike longer than older ones, and older kids will likely appreciate a destination more than younger ones who are focused on the trail! I use the “journey is the destination” guideline for younger kids and opt for shorter trips.
• Adult-to-kid ratio: If you’re taking your kids out alone or with many kids and a few adults, I find it helpful to consider the above factors and the trails’ features. With young children, you may want to avoid campsites by the water if they aren’t solid swimmers or trails with significant drop-offs. You can get a good idea of trail features using trip reports and hiking guides on wta.org.

Using a toddler backpacking carrier with a hiking backpack on the trail.

Preparing to backpack with kids

These tips will help engage children in the trip before it even starts. Proper planning is crucial to any successful backpacking trip.

• Test your gear ahead of time. Set your tent up inside or in the yard, take it on a camping trip, and practice hiking with your gear before committing to an overnight. Especially for young kids, setting gear up beforehand allows them to explore the different textures and sounds before committing to the wilderness.
• Involve them in the planning. Motivating children on the trail is much easier when they’re excited! Choose your trip based on your kid’s preferences for the beach, a lake, or wildlife. It can set you up for success before stepping on the trail.
• Discuss the trip in depth. Bring a map and show your child the journey and the topographic features. Explain what each day will look like and discuss the weather forecast. With older children, it can be helpful to define roles (navigator, chef, after-dinner entertainment) for the first day, allowing the roles to shift after day 1. Check in with everyone to discuss hopes and fears and address any questions or concerns.

Child-sized backpacking gear, including a sleeping bag, puffer jacket, and merino wool base layers.

Backpacking with kids: Choosing your gear

So you’re ready to take your young kids backpacking this summer, but what do you pack? Spring is an ideal time to start collecting your gear for a smooth transition once the snow melts.

In general, everything you need as an adult is adequate for a kid, too, in their sizes, of course. For very small children, a few outdoor companies have surfaced in the past few years that offer options for even the tiniest adventurers.

Here are some specialty gear options to consider when backpacking with kids:

• Morrison sleeping bag: This company makes down and synthetic sleeping bags for small children. They are available online and at REI, but they sell out once the season starts, so the sooner you pick one up, the better! They allow for free arms, which I find very useful when young kids wake up in the middle of the night and may need a moment to remember where they are.
• Iksplor Merino Wool Layers: Taking an infant outside? Iksplor has merino wool baselayers for even the tiniest of adventurers! Wool or other synthetic fibers that keep your body warm when wet are necessary for backpacking adventures.
• Trail Magik Backpacking carrier: Wondering how you’ll carry your toddler or preschooler AND a fully packed backpacking backpack? The Trail Magik carrier is the only one out there that attaches to your regular backpacking backpack so you don’t need to bring an extra carrier! It’s ultra-lightweight and offers an opportunity for rest when backpacking with kids who want to be up and down all along the trail.

Facebook Marketplace is a great place to shop for used kids’ backpacking gear at an affordable price. 

A forest view from the trail of Lizard Lake near Bellingham, WA.

Destinations for all ages

Ozette loop

Ozette Loop on the Olympic Peninsula is my number one pick for a first backpacking trip with young children. It offers a 9.4 mile loop that can be broken down into three miles of hiking each day for two nights of backpacking or an out-and-back one-night trip. The trail offers a boardwalk through a lush rainforest full of toddler wonders and a beach that’s perfect for sand play, fort building, surf exploration, campfires, and family games.

Baker Lake

Baker Lake is another very flexible backpacking trail that is 8 miles roundtrip with several campsites and lots to do. If you’re camping with older children and can access two cars, try a one-way car shuttle for a 2-3 night backpacking trip without retracing your steps. You can also choose an out-and-back trip. With exciting trail features like rocks, trail stairs, and plenty of roots and greenery that follow the south end of Baker Lake in the Mount Baker Wilderness, the journey is the destination.

Marmot Pass

Ideal for older kids or ambitious families looking to make heavy use of kid hiking carriers, Marmot Pass is on the Olympic Peninsula and offers a challenge for adults and a good introduction to peak-bagging and sweeping viewpoints. The hike is 11.5 miles roundtrip and offers river and ridge campsites in the Olympic Peninsula’s northeast section. Take your time and go for several nights, or do it as a one-nighter. 

Lily and Lizard Lakes

This lesser-known backpacking destination in the Chuckanuts near Bellingham offers an extensive 7.5 mile trail network, so you can choose your own adventure! Looking for a steep trail with roots and rocks? Or how about something flatter and easier, where you can walk side by side with family members? Either way, there’s a route for that. Choose one lake or both, and enjoy the flexibility! These trails are usually not too busy, and it’s likely you’ll get the feeling of solitude without going very far.

Along with your gear, the knowledge from this article, and the ten essentials, all else you will need is a sense of wonder to get started on your first adventure backpacking with kids.

Read more about getting into the outdoors with kids:

• Tent camping for the first time? Here’s what you need and where to go
• Ten essentials for a hiking trip
• Check out these hikes in the North Cascades
• Guide to the RV life

The post How to go backpacking with kids appeared first on Seattle's Child.

Each year has looked different as our kids’ ages and stages have changed, and we’ve picked up great ideas and tips from our experiences and fellow family campers along the way. Here are the top seven tips we’ve learned about camping with our twin toddlers.

Photo credit: Ellie White

1: Have fun!

Camping with little ones is a lot of work, but we (so far) have never regretted any trip. Some trips were easier or harder than others. But they all were opportunities to have lots of family time outside in our beautiful Pacific Northwest.

Photo credit: Ellie White

2: Plan driving breaks on the road to your destination

Before a long car ride, consider planning some strategic stops. Are there any parks along the way? Rest stops? Restaurants you might like to eat at? Friends to visit?

[ Related: Kid-friendly restaurants along I-5 in Washington State]

A little planning may go a long way when you’re in the car with screaming toddlers.

Our longest drive from Seattle to the Pacific coast coincided with one of our kids suddenly being very uninterested in being in the car. What great timing. It was a long day of travel, no doubt, but we planned a few stops along the way to give our little ones a break from being strapped into their car seats. Stops included a nature reserve off the freeway (with a short walk and lunch) and a park on the ocean.

Photo credit: Ellie White

3: Don’t forget to plan for the trip home

Planned stops helped us avoid frantically looking for places to stop when our kids desperately needed a break, which unfortunately happened on the way home.

I was so focused on the trip out to the campsite that I hadn’t planned breaks for the return trip (we took a different route home). And that is how we ended up in a tiny parking lot just off Highway 101, sitting directly in the sun, trying to keep our kids from touching the ground while eating a thrown-together lunch. We wouldn’t have had such a chaotic stop if I’d planned a bit better.

When it’s time for important tasks, this family finds it makes sense to divide and conquer. (Photo credit: Ellie White)

4: To keep the kids safe, divide and conquer

Instead of trying to manage the kids while packing/unpacking, cooking/cleaning or engaging in setup/break-down of camp, my husband and I divide tasks: One person is 100% on kid duty, and the other is 100% in charge of the task(s).

This ensures that we meet our non-negotiable trip goals (keeping the kids safe and doing the necessary tasks, like setting up the tent so we have somewhere to sleep).

Kid duty usually looks like taking the kids on a walk around the campground or sitting and playing with them in the play yard that we hauled to the forest when they were mobile 1-year-olds.

Camp tasks are a big job that you can do more easily without worrying about keeping kids safe. This method has worked well for our family (perhaps because we’re a family of multiples!). We’ll keep doing this until the day the kids can keep themselves safe and entertained or can help with camp jobs.

5: Bring a comprehensive first-aid kit

Thanks to my prepared husband, we always bring a basic first-aid kit on camping trips. In fact, he put one together that we just throw in the car on every trip.

We learned our lesson when our toddler had a terrible night of sleep, was cranky and lethargic all the next morning, and woke up quite warm from a nap. We didn’t have a thermometer to check his temperature and didn’t know for certain if our child had a rough night sleeping away from home or was warm because of the weather. Or maybe he really had a fever.

Thankfully, another family had a thermometer, which confirmed his fever.

We cut our trip short, packed up our gear, and headed home for our little guy to recover.

I learned that while any first aid kit is better than no first aid kit, perhaps it is better to have a comprehensive one, especially when camping with little ones. As we begin camping this summer, we’ll go through our first aid kit and see what items we should add. Included will be a thermometer and other helpful tools for sick infants and toddlers.

Only bring what you need, like portable cribs for naptime. Photo credit: Ellie White.

6: You don’t need all the gear

It seems like everywhere you look, especially as parents, you’re told that you need to have all the right gear for each different moment for your child. Camping is no exception. But before filling your closet or garage with gear, consider using what you already have for camping.

I spent a lot of time thinking about keeping my kids warm at night when they were 2-year-old campers. They had outgrown their full-body fleece suits but seemed way too small for sleeping bags.

There are a handful of sleeping bag-like bodysuits for camping, but it seemed silly to spend money on something that they would likely only use for a year (we anticipated them using sleeping bags the following summer). I was so worried about getting out into the forest and them being cold, but I just couldn’t justify buying something new for one season.

After talking with friends, I realized we could put multiple layers of warm clothes on and cover them with blankets. This is what we did all summer, and they slept just fine. (We’d occasionally check on them and move a blanket over them if we thought they might be chilly.)

As you prepare for your adventures and consider what you might need, don’t forget to look at what you already have.

7: Consider the sun

I have to admit that I never thought of this when we arrived at a campsite and looked at possible tent locations. Thankfully, other parents would always point out the constant rotation of the Earth around the sun.

That’s right: Sun and shade will constantly shift throughout the campsite, which is a big deal when you desperately hope that your toddlers will peacefully slumber in their temporary woodland home in the early afternoon.

Unfortunately, I don’t have a tip for finding the best spot in your campsite for naptime. In our experience, sometimes there’s just nothing you can do about having your tent in the blazing sun during naptime.

I’m not sure how much research you could do unless you’ve been to a site before to know the makeup of a campsite well enough (Where are the trees? How tall are they? Where are the flat spots for tents? Will your tent fit in that spot?) to guarantee that you’ll have a shady spot during naptime.

Some things we tried on those blazing afternoons included keeping all of the vents and windows open in the tent. We tried putting blankets and towels over the tent (I don’t think this did anything to cool the tent down, but we were desperate). We even tried putting our travel cribs in a shady part of the campground. Also 0% effective, but our toddlers entertained our whole campsite with their jabbering and constantly craning their necks to see what was going on).

So, no big tip here, just a reminder that the sun can make afternoon napping a challenge. And make sure that you’re checking in on your kids if they are napping in the sun: Tents can get super hot, super fast.

Here’s to making camping memories this summer with your infant, your 5-year-old, or your teen. Enjoy the joys and challenges of each stage as you experience life together with your kids in the outdoors.

This story was originally published in 2022 and updated August 2024

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